-
UK orders reviews of franchising sector after Vodafone allegations
The UK government has commissioned two in-depth studies into how the franchising sector is regulated, as ministers weigh new legislation following allegations about Vodafone’s treatment of franchisees. The move follows a Guardian investigation last December revealing claims that Adrian Howe, a former Vodafone employee who began a franchise in 2018, took his own life after…
-
First Bus bans under-16s in Stoke-on-Trent travelling alone after 6pm after disorder
First Bus has banned all under-16s in Stoke-on-Trent from travelling on its buses without an adult after 6pm, citing a rise in antisocial behaviour since the government introduced free bus travel for 5- to 15-year-olds in England on 1 August. The move highlights growing tension over how to manage youth misbehaviour on public transport, with…
-
Onshore windfarm applications hit 10-year high in England
Onshore windfarm applications in England have reached their highest annual level in a decade, following the Labour government’s decision to scrap the Conservatives’ de facto ban shortly after taking office in 2024. A Guardian analysis of government data found around 45 applications were submitted in the year to March, with the pace of capacity entering…
-
‘Friday afternoon fraud’: warning for UK homebuyers on bank scams
UK homebuyers are being warned about “conveyancing fraud”, also known as “Friday afternoon fraud”, in which criminals intercept email chains between buyers and their solicitors or estate agents to trick victims into transferring deposits or purchase funds into fraudulent bank accounts. The scam typically occurs at the end of a property sale, often timed before…
-
Drill, Burnham, drill? The oil basin that is a totem for Trump – and a headache for Britain’s new PM
North Sea oil once symbolised British economic power and national renewal, but the basin’s output and influence have shrunk dramatically, leaving it as a politically charged relic rather than an economic powerhouse. Discovered in 1969, it became central to Margaret Thatcher’s economic project and, decades earlier, prompted Jim Callaghan to hail it as Britain’s “best…
-
10 Great TV Series on BritBox Everyone Should Binge-Watch
Collider has published a list recommending 10 great TV series available on BritBox, the streaming service known for British content, aimed at helping viewers find their next binge-watch. The piece highlights the platform’s range across genres, from period dramas to comedies and crime thrillers, positioning BritBox as a strong destination for UK television abroad. Featured…
-
Iranian hackers ‘shut down British power plant for four days’ in unprecedented cyber attack
Iranian state-linked hackers shut down an unnamed British power plant for four days in what officials describe as the first and most effective cyber attack of its kind on UK energy infrastructure, prompting an investigation by the National Cyber Security Centre and briefings for power industry chief executives. The facility is understood to be a…
-
Russian cyber war unit believed to be behind hoax call as Burnham plays down exchange of messages with White House staff impersonator
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has played down an exchange of messages he had with someone impersonating a senior White House official, in an incident believed to have been orchestrated by a Russian cyber warfare unit. The hoax appears to be part of a wider pattern of impersonation attempts targeting UK and international…
-
Mark Ruffalo Rejects Paramount’s Claim His Anti-Merger Comments Were “Antisemitic”: “My Views Should Never Be Interpreted as Hostility Toward Jewish People”
Mark Ruffalo has rejected Paramount’s claim that his campaign against the studio’s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros involved “antisemitic” language, insisting his criticism of Israeli military action and Larry Ellison’s Oracle should never be read as hostility towards Jewish people. In a statement posted on X, the actor called the accusation “appalling and fundamentally…